 Water is a resource that we all need, so it requires careful use and conservation. Our ancestors depended on the rain for much of their water needs. Today, we are making the case for rainwater use again. It is free and versatile. There are numerous reasons to use rainwater. For one thing it is good for plants. For another, it is free and has a positive impact on the environment. Rainwater harvesting is an innovative alternative water supply approach anyone can use. Rainwater harvesting captures, diverts, and stores rainwater for later use. Captured rainwater is often used in landscaping, because the water is free of salts and other harmful minerals and does not have to be treated. It is also useful in attracting and providing water for wildlife. In many communities, 30 to 50 percent of the total water is used for landscape irrigation. Capturing rainwater for use in the landscape makes efficient use of a valuable resource, reducing water bills and reducing demand on water supply. Rainwater harvesting can also help to prevent flooding and erosion, turning stormwater problems into water supply assets by slowing runoff and allowing it to soak into the ground. Reducing run-off also helps to reduce the contamination of surface water with sediments and chemicals in rainfall run-off.
Several organizations have found that surface and groundwater supplies will not be able to meet future water demand. Water conservation and development of alternative water supplies is necessary to meet our growing demand for fresh water. A rainwater harvesting system consists of the supply (rainfall), the demand (water needed by plants), and a system for collecting water and moving it to the plants. Simple systems distribute rainwater immediately. Complex systems store some or all of the rainwater for later use.
“Run-off” is the rainwater that flows off a surface. If the surface is impermeable (for example, pavement, concrete, roofs), run-off occurs immediately. If the surface is permeable, run-off will not occur until the surface is saturated. Run-off can be harvested (captured) and used immediately to water plants or stored for later use. The types and numbers of plants in your landscape, along with their growth stages and sizes, determine the amount of water your plants need to be healthy. Because rainfall varies, different plants have become adapted to conditions in different regions. Plants native to your region are the best choices for your landscape because their water requirements are usually met by normal rainfall amounts.
Rainwater collection and distribution systems can be incorporated into almost any existing site, although it is easier to incorporate them into new construction. More can be learned from books that cover the subject extensively as well as online at several community websites. This is one of the best and easiest practices to become green with.
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